Apparatus for applying rotating bands to projectile shells



. 194.6. A. MINARIK, JR., ETAL ,4 5,

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ROTATING BANDS TO PROJECTILE SHELLS Filed March 6, 1943 SSheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 27, 1946.

A. MlNARlK, JR., ETAL 2,406,392

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ROTATING BANDS TO PROJECTILE SHELLS File'd March e, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 27, 1946.

A. MINARIK, JR., ETAL 2,406,392 APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ROTATING BANDS TO PROJECTILE SHELLS Filed March 6, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 14' f4 9 Jrzdizfors:

. y" [LN 2 faring Aug. 27, 1946;

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ROTATING BANDS T0 PROJEC TILE SHELLS Filed March 6, 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 A. MiNARlK,JR., ET L 2,406,392

Aug, 27, 1946. A. MINARIK, JR., ET AL 2,406,392

APPARATUS FOR APPLYING ROTATING BANDS TQ PROJEC'IILE SHELLS Filed March 6 1943 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 IIIIHHHHIIHIIIIIIHHIIHU Patented Aug. 27, 1946 APPARATUS FOR,v APPLYING ROTATING BANDS TO PROJECTILE SHELLS Anthony Minarik, Jr., and Swen H. R. Ericson,

Chicago, 11]., assignors pany, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application March 6, 1943, Serial No. 478,320

11 Claims. (01. 78-15) This invention relates to a method and apparatus for joining concentric cylindrical members and, more specifically, for applying rotating bands to shells for projectiles, such as are used n field guns and other artillery pieces. The shells are made of steel, and in order to cause the proectile to rotate in the barrel of the gun. it is customary to place a band of copper or other relatlvely soft material on the exterior of the shell so that it may be cut into by the spiral rifiing in the gun barrel, to cause rotation of the shell as it travels through and leaves the barrel.

l-Ieretofore such rotating bands have been applied by a swedging process or in other manner, which has not only been slow but has been inefficient in that the bands were not always securely or uniformly applied.

In accordance with our invention the bands are applied through a process involving the use of a die which is preferably actuated by hydraulic means and employs relatively movable elements, whereby the band is properl located and bonded onto the shell, after which the latter may be eJected from the machine. The process is a very rapid and eflicient one and the apparatus employed is certain and effective in operation, the result being that the shells may be banded in much shorter time than heretofore and there is a much smaller percenta e of rejects because of loose or im roperly placed bands.

Other obiects and advanta es of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawin s. in which:

Fig. l is a vertical, sectional and elevational View of a po tion of an appa atus embodyin the structure of the invention and by which the process may be practiced;

Fig. 2 is a similar view of another porti n o the a paratus. being a continuation downwardly from the l wer part of Fig. 1;

Fi s. 3 and 4 are views similar to Fig. 1 showing the app ratus in two additional positions;

Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the apparatus;

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view of the u per part of the apparatus taken substantially on the sec ion line 65 of Fig. 3;

Figs. '7, 8 and 9 are partial sectional views showingthree successive steps in the process and the relative positions of the hydraulic plungers at the different stages of the operation.

Referring first to Fig. 1, the apparatus comprises a block I I having therein an opening I2 through which the bands l3 ma pass downwardly to Mills Novelty Comfrom a magazine formed by rods l4 extending upwardly from the top of said block.

The block also supports a female die element l5 which is supported upon a shoulder is in the lower part of an aperture IT in the block and is held in place by a ring l8 having screw-threaded engagement with the block I l in an enlarged upper part of the aperture I 1.

The block II has a transfer passageway l9 therein, through which the lowermost band may be moved from a position beneath the magazine to a position beneath the female die element IS. The movement of the bands in this passageway is effected by means of a pusher 2| which is connected by depending ears 22 to a link 23 connected to a lever 24 which is pivoted at 25 to a block 25 on a supporting shelf 21 resting upon a support 28 which is connected to the block II by means of bolts 29.

g The lever 24 has a nose portion-3| engaging a shoulder 32 on a male die element 33 which is connected to the upper end of a tubular plunger 34 by means of set screws 35.

Said lever 24' has a tail portion 36 extending beyond the pivot 25 and pivotally connected to a rod 31 slidably mounted in a guide member 38. A spring 39 is mounted on said rod between said guide member 38 and a nut 4| on an outer screwthreaded portion 42 of the rod.

A locking lever 43 is mounted on the block 26, to which it is pivoted at 44, and a spring 45 is positioned between a portion of said lever at the left of the pivot, as shown in Fig. 1, and the guide member 38, the ends of said spring xtending into recesses in said members 38 and 43, or being otherwise suitably secured thereto. The opposite end of the lever 43 engages a lower beveled portion 46 on the die element 33 when the latter is in the position shown in Fig. 1.

The pusher 2| is connected by a link 41 with a, dash-pot or other suitable cushioning element 43, which is supported by a block 49 secured by screws 5| to the block II.

A plunger rod 52 is mounted within the tubular plunger 34 and has a head portion 53 adapted to engage the lower end of the shell, which is indicated in the drawings .by the reference number 54. This inner plunger 52, as will later appear, is adapted to have relative movement with respect to the outer tubular plunger 34 and with respect to the die element 33 secured to the upper end of said tubular plunger.

When the plunger 34 and die element 33 are in the position shown in Fig. 1, the pusher 2| will have been advanced to its forward position, plac- 7 ing a band l3 into position on the upper end of of grooves 56 on the exterior of the shell is dis- 7 7 posed within the band I3.

The plungers 34 and 52 are actuated by hy draulic pressure in manner which will-now be described. l

A piston 51, composed of two shouldered ele-;- ments 58 and 59 and a packing element is permanently secured to the tube 34 by a shou.- dered engagement, as indicated at 82, and is adapted to move within a cylinder or sleeve 63 which is 'mounted between the block 28 and a block 54 spaced below said block 28. A pipe 65 communicates with'a horizontal passage 55 in the block 28 and said passage communicates by means .of a-vertical passage S'I'Willh the interior of the cylinder 63 above the piston 51.

A pipe 68 communicates with a horizontal passage 39 in the block 34, and said passage come municates through a vertical passage H with the interior of the cylinder 63 beneath the piston 59. Up-and-down movement of the tubular plunger 34 is thus effected by alternate admission of hydraulic pressureintothe cylinder 63 below and above the piston 59.

The inner plunger 52 is similarly moved up and down by means of a piston 12 secured to .a twodimensional plunger rod 13 which is connected to the plunger rod 52 by a screw-threaded connection indicated at M. Said piston 72 moves in a cylinder 1.5 extending between blocks 16 and H, the former being connected with the block 64 by means of a tubular member 18.

Hydraulic pressur is admitted to the cylinder .15'above the piston 12 through a pipe 19, communicating with a horizontal passage 81 in the block 19, which in turn communicates with the cylinder by means of a vertical passage'flZ.

. The hydraulicmedium is admitted to the cylinder 15 beneath the piston 12 through a pipe 83 communicating with a'horizontal passage 84in the block 11, saidpassage in turn communicating with the cylinder by means of a vertical passage 85. Thus. admission of the pressure medium through the pipe 83 causes upward movement of the piston 12, and admission of such medium through the pipe 19 causes downward movement of said piston, the rods 13 and 52 moving with said piston. i

The limits of the movement of said rods 52 and I3 are provided by means of an enlargement 86 on the lower end of the rod 52 which is movable vertically in a central opening 8'! in a connecting coupling frame 88, the upper end ofwhich is connected at 89 with the lower end of the tube 34. Said'enlargement 86 at the upper end of its path of movement engages the lower end 9| of said tube 34, and at the lower end of such path of movement engages a shoulder 92'at the bottom of said coupling frame. i Bearings or guide members 93 are providedin the blocks 28, 64, 1 6 and "for the plunger elements which slide Within said blocks, said members being secured in place by means ,of screws 94, and suitable packing 95 is provided in said 3 blocks inwardly from'said bearing members, as

shown in Figs. 1 and 2, as well as other figures of the drawings.

The three positions of the hydraulic plungers and of the movable die are shown in Figs. 1, 3 and 4, respectively, and also in Figs. '7, 8 and 9, respectively, the latter showing also in single figures the two plunger-operating pistons and associated hydraulic blocks or heads 28, 64,16 and 11 above described.

Figs. 1 and 7 show the starting position with the movable die member 33 in its lowermost position and the inner plunger 52 and plunger-head 53 in depressed position. In this position it will be noted that the pusher 2! is held in its forward position by means of the spring 39 which draws the rod 31 to the left (viewing Fig. 1) when permitted to do so.

In Figs. 3 and 8 the parts are shown at the upper end of the stroke of the tubular plunger 34 and die member 33. It will be noted that in this position the die member 33 has been moved upwardly into the member i5, the lower part of the inner wall of the latter being tapered, as indicated at 99, to receive the tapered end of the member 33. The shell 54 has been moved upwardly, as has the band l3 thereon, certain of the material of the latter having been forcedinto the grooves 56 by pressure against the tapered female die 96. The band is still supported by the die member 33 and has been held in fixed relation to the shell thereby. The movement of the die 33 .to its uppermost position has actuated the lever .24 against the tension of the spring 39 and moved the pusher 2| to its rearward position, said lever being locked in this position at this time by engagement of the end of the tail part 36 thereof with a shoulder 91 on the locking lever 43. V

In the position shown in Figs. 4 and 9, the inner plunger 53 has continued to move upwardly after the outer plunger 34 and die 33 have reached their uppermost position, and has forced the shell and applied band all the way upwardly through the die member l5. then been completed and the shell may be removed by hand or by gravity, or in any suitable tion to receive a shell, as shown in this figure, the

locking lever 43 being disengaged from the part '36 of the lever 24 in this position by reason of contact of the end of said locking lever with a beveled surface 46 on the lower exterior portion of the diemember 33.

The hydraulic pressure medium is alternately suppliedthrough the pipes 68 and 83 to cause the upstrokes of the plungers 34 and 52 and through the pipes 65 and 19 to cause the downstrokes of said plungers respectively by any uitable hydraulic circulating system (not shown) subject to manual control by the operation of the machine.

The operation of the apparatus and the successive steps in the practice of the process need be only briefly described since they will be quite fully understood from the foregoing description.

Starting with the position of the parts shown in Figs. 1 and '7 in which one of the bands I3 is located against the stop 50 and a shell 54 has been dropped into place, manually or otherwise, passing through the b and and assuming the relation thereto shown in these figures, the operation The banding operation has may be started by actuation. of the manual con, trol. (not shown). The plungers 34 and. 5.2: will thereupon be moved upwardly together to. the position shovm in Figs. 3 and 8, forcing the shell, which rests. on the head 53 of the. plunger 52, and the band, which rests on the top of: the die member 33, upwardly'into the die member [15, causing the band to be secured to the shell by displacement of the metal of the band, a part of which enters the grooves 56 on the shell. The plunger 34 has then reached its uppermost point, but the plunger 52 continues to move upwardly, forcing the shell with the applied band the rest of the way through the die member [5 and freeing the shell from the dies for discharge. This additional movement of the plunger 52' carries: it to the position shown in Figs. 4 and 9. After removal of. the shell, reverse movement. of the plungers .52 and 34 will bring the parts back to the position shown in Figs. 1 and 7, ready for another operation.

It will be noted that the band I3 is supported by the die member 33 in a definite relation to the shell 5 until it is firmly connected to the shell, thus assuring accuracy and uniformity in the results of the banding operation.

The foregoing detailed description has been given for cl'tarness of understanding only, and no unnecessary limitations should be understood therefrom, but the appended claims should be construed as broadly as permissible in viewof the prior art.

We claim:

1. Apparatus for joining cylindrical members at least one of which is made of pressure-displaceable material, comprising a die, separate movable supports for each of said members, means for moving said supports in unison to force one of said members into pressure contact with said die to cause said members to be bonded together, and means for thereafter causing furthermovement of one only of the supports to discharge the joined members from said die.

2. Hydraulically operable apparatus for joining cylindrical members at least one of which is made of pressure-displaceable material, comprising a die, separate movable supports for eachof said members, means for moving said supports in unison to force one of said members into pressure contact with said die to cause said members to be bondedtogether, and means for thereafter causing further movement of one only of the sup- 7 ports to discharge the joined members from said die, said supports being equipped with means for hydraulic operation thereof.

3. Apparatus for joining cylindrical members at least one of which is made of pressure-displaceable material, comprising a die, separate movable supports for each of said members, means for moving said supports in unison to force one of said members into pressure contact with said die to cause said members to be bonded together, means for thereafter causing further movement of one only of the supports to discharge the joined members from said die, and means controlled by one of said supports for feeding one of said members to assembling position upon each complete operation of said support.

4. Apparatus for joining cylindrical members at least one of which is made of pressure-displaceable material, comprising a die, separate movable supports for each of said members, means for moving said supports in unison to force one of said members into pressure contact with said die to cause said members to be bonded together,

means for thereafter causing further movement of one only of: the supports to discharge the joined members from said die, means controlled by one of: said. supports for feeding one of said meme hers to assembling. position upon each complete operation of said support, and means. also controlled. by said. support for locking said feeding means out of action in all but one position of said support.

5. Apparatus for applying rotating bands to shells, comprising a die member, two relatively movable plungers mounted adjacent said die, one being arranged to support the shell and the other tov support the band in predetermined relationship to the shell, said plungers being movable a predetermined distance in unison to move a band andv a shell; into operative relation to the; die to cause the latterlto exert pressure on the band to press. the same into bonding relation to. the shell, and one of said plungers being further movable to discharge the shell with the band bonded thereto from said die.

6. Apparatus for applying rotating bands to shells, comprising a die member, tWo relatively movable plungers mounted adjacent said die, one being arranged to support the shell and the other to support the band in predetermined relationship to the shell, said plungers being movable a predetermined distance in unison to move a band and a shell into operative relation to the die to cause the latter to exert pressure on the band to press the same into bonding relation to the shell, and one of said plungers being further movable to discharge the shell with the band bonded thereto from said die, said plungers being equipped with means for hydraulic operation thereof.

'7. Apparatus for applying rotating bands to shells, comprising a die member, two relatively movable plungers mounted adjacent said die, one being arranged to support the shell and the other to support the band in predetermined relationship to the shell, said plungers being movable a predetermined distance in unison to move a band and a shell into operative relation to the die to cause the latter to exert pressure on the band to press the same into bonding relation to the shell, one of said plungers being further movable to discharge the shell with the band bonded thereto from said die, and means controlled by one of said plungers for feeding a band to assembling position adjacent said die upon each complete operation of the plunger.

8. Apparatus for applying rotating bands to shells, comprising a die member, two relatively movable plungers mounted adjacent said die, one being arranged to support the shell and the other to support the band in predetermined relationship to the shell, said plungers being movable a predetermined distance in unison to move a band and a shell into operative relation to the die to cause the latter to exert pressure on the band to press the same into bonding relation to the shell, and one of said plungers being further movable to discharge the shell with the band bonded thereto from said die, said plungers being mounted one within the other and the inner plunger having said additional movement after the outer one comes to rest.

9. Apparatus for applying rotating bands to shells comprising a female die element, a magazine for the bands, a transfer device for moving the bands successively to an assembling station adjacent said die at which station the shell may be placed within said band, a plunger engaging a 7 the band, a second plunger engaging the shell, means for moving said plungers a predetermined distance in unison to move theshell and encircling band partway through said die to cause the band to be pressed into bonding engagement with the shell, and means for thereafter moving the plunger which engages the shell a further distance to move theshell and applied band the rest of the way through said die.

10. Apparatus for applying rotating bands to shells comprising a female die element, a magazine for the bands, a transfer device for movin with the shell, means for thereafter moving the V plunger which engages the shell a further distance to move the shell and applied band the restv of the way through said die, and means for causing reverse movement of said plungers.

11. Apparatus for applying rotating bands to shells comprising a female die element, a magazaine for the bands, 9, transfer device for movin the bands successively to an assembling station adjacent said die at which station the shell may be placed within said band, a plunger engaging the band, a second plunger engaginglthe shell, means for moving said plungers a predetermined distance in unison to move the shell and encircling band part Way through said die to cause the band to be pressed into bonding engagement with the shell, means for thereafter moving the plunger which engages the shell a further distance to move the shell and applied band the rest of the Way through said die, and means for causing reverse movement of said plungers, said plunger-operating means being hydraulically 

